Our previous episodes  described a new player the table, Onlive. 

• Future of SL is beyond e-tech. Now on to s-tech
• Future of SL Beyond e-tech (continued)

Onlive offers the prospect of a major change in the infrastructure used to deliver online games and the virtual reality that they live in.    In this episode, we examine the prospects for this change and some of the futures it may offer.

Recon Report

According to the Onlive website here is how you will use virtual reality (VR) environments in the future:   

M Linden called live music in Second Life a "killer ap."   I was on that theme in an article a while back:
Music is real business in virtual reality

That article included a prospective scenario about Joe the Geek and his biworld beer party.  He invited a bunch of his friends to sit around his 96 inch TV screen and sing along with EvaMoon Ember. I even suggested an inworld monetizing scenario: 

"…an entrepreneur might decide that there is a potential demand for a new service, Party Special, set up specifically for entertaining guests at a party.  With specific guests getting recognition and comment.   Chatting with performers on break.  Requesting specific songs.  All the things that add value to a performance at a night club.   And things that might make the host want to pay extra for a private party."

That entrepreneur, Party Marty, would be offering (and charging for) an inworld catering service.  Turn-key operation.  You tell Marty what you need:

My earlier discussions of music business in SL provoked some controversy in the comment sections.  The comments deserve more attention than they will get in that location, so I will review some of them here.    You can go back to the originals by following this link..